Overrated and overhyped

A Disappointing Continuation

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Spoilers Im rating this movie a 3, but that being said, i have the DVD and i never change it when its on TV. I find the TV version even funnier than the uncensored. First about me, im a 25-30 year old White male that was not brought up with a difficult life. I say this cause I've read some other reviews that talk about how pin point this movie is. I hope to god they are wrong, there is not a level head in this movie. And none of the African Americans i am friends with, have ever acted anything like this.Jody (our main character) tries to act gangster, but clearly is soft. The movie gave me the feeling that if his friend "P" was not around, he probably would have a better life. But he looks up to his friend, who spews lines that are border line retarded, and Jody takes them like gospel. Jody treats his girlfriend/ baby momma (played by Taraji Henson) like crap. I am troubled by her acting in this movie, not sure if its lack of guidance from the director, or just her inexperience at the time. But later in her career she proves to be a great actress, just not here. "P" played by Omar Gooding, is an apple that was thrown from the tree. He needs to go back to Nickelodeon, and leave the grown up roles to his cousin, Cuba. Ving Rhames actually acts fine, just has a poorly written role. Now the reason i love this movie; Certain scenes, are so over the top, they are awesome. Jody, at one point gets punkd and beat up for his bike, by a bunch of school kids. Instead of manning up, he gets his friend "P" and gun, and make the kids stand there and take a beating at gunpoint. Which ends up with "P" spanking one like its his own child. Every scene with snoop dog has great one liners. And all these one liners are even better on the TV version, because the N Bomb gets substituted with "chicken". Towards the end of the movie, Snoop rolls up on Jody in a drive by, and once again Jody hits the fetal position, instead of fighting back. And cries cause he thought he was shot, but wasn't even close. There are many more scenes like these, but you need to just watch it. In summary, i rate this movie a three, but i love watching it. From an actual critical stand point, John Singleton should be embarrassed for this representation of Americans. best quote; snoop "I hate you too lil chicken"

I was amazed by Baby Boy. I was totally amazed by this film. Baby Boy is a bit unflinching. For one thing, as the movie goes along, Jody, the protagonist of the movie, begins to seem vaguely unlikeable, perhaps even down-right bad. He does, perhaps, redeem himself by the end. There's a lot of conflict in the relationships in Jodys' life. Too many people trying to live in too small a space with probably not quite enough money to go 'round. I think I saw his mom as a victim and Jody as a bad-guy. Really, maybe it would be helpful if his mom were a more compassionate person too. Perhaps Jody is taking after his mom in the first place... donno I could see myself in the role of his moms' new boyfriend. A friend of mine was talking about something like this awhile back. He was saying, "you know, if I ever do get married, the lady's going to have kids of her own already." I swear; they based the guy in the movie 'The 40 Year Virgin' on my friend. I'm pretty much in the same situation - I mean - about dating ladies who already have kids. Baby Boy seems to lose something with repeated viewings tho perhaps it's the editing for TV. I was put off some by the moral tone of the movie. It seems somehow dehumanizing to assume Jody can only be a good person - if he's able to see himself in the shoes of his potential victim.

Baby boy is the story of a young man, who apparently like many others in the inner-city, refuses to accept the duties and responsibilities of adulthood. He doesn't wish to "leave the nest" as his mother suggests he do in an early scene. Jody Summers, played by the charismatic Tyrese Gibson, is a representation for the kind of man Singleton wishes to indict with his film. Jody is twenty years old. He still lives with his mother, he has no steady job, he has children with two different women (that we know of), no car.... the list goes on. We see an intelligence within the young man that at times wants to bubble to the surface, but always seems to get stifled by bad decisions that usually involve women.In the first scene, we see Jody pick up his main-stay girlfriend (Taraji P. Henson) from the abortion clinic. After bringing her home and lovingly tucking her into bed, he's off with her car to visit the mother of another of his children. Jody really gets around with the ladies. But instead of marrying one of them or at least moving in with them, he prefers to live at home with his mother. One day there is great big surprise waiting at home when he arrives. His mother his a new man (Ving Rhames), and the two are crazy about each other. Melvin, a reformed criminal, intends to move in, and that leaves Jody feeling the pressure to move out and start an adult life of his own. Things are also complicated by the release from prison of Snoop Dog. He is a former boyfriend of Jody's woman, and he shows up at her place uninvited and looking for trouble.The film is a series of fights (both verbal and physical), make-up sessions, explicit sex, shootings, and thoughtful insight. The film is cast to perfection, and the pacing is without peer for this type of film. At 130 minutes, the film never outstays its welcome. There is a ton of profanity, and acrimony between the major players. Will Jody decide to grow up and marry the woman he loves? Will he ever see eye to eye with his mother's new boyfriend? Will Snoop Dogg get what's coming to him? Let's just say that things end up happy on most counts. I wish, along with Director John Singleton, that there would be more happy endings in the lives of these kinds of people.These characters, and the world they live in, are as far from anything I've ever experienced in my own lifetime as they could be. It is a credit to John Singleton that he could make me care so much about them in this terrific film. The film made a decent profit at the theater, and will continue to be appreciated for years on the DVD market.8 of 10 stars.The Hound.

Baby Boy (2001) has to be the best film John Singleton has made in his decade and a half directorial career. What separates this movie from others is how real life the situations are in this movie. People like this exist in all different races, ethnicities and social standings. I guess people were turned off by the "gangsta" element. I don't know why because it's just an excellent film that has brilliant acting and writing. Surprise is an understatement, when I saw this movie on video I couldn't believe that this was made by the same director who made Shaft and that schlocky Higher Learning. Too bad Singleton had to sell out again and make Too Fast, Too Furious.The movie follows the life of Jody, an unemployed roustabout who has two kids with two different women. He doesn't do anything and whines to anyone who'll listen to him. Jody takes no responsibility for his actions and blames them on others. One day his life begins to change when his mother get's involved with a world wise former knuckle head (VIng Rhames). Even though his actions and words are too straight forward for a young pup like Jody, he tries to get him to look at life from a reality perspective instead of hanging on his mother's apron strings. Jody likes to run around with his buddy Sweetpea and spend time with his babies momma. One of his girlfriends has a man (Snoop Dogg) who's waiting to get out of the pen and claim what he thinks is his. Can Jody get his life together or will the streets and his own stupidity and lack of accepting adulthood bring him down.Like I said, this is a great movie that was over looked by the viewing public. John Singleton should make more movies like this instead of trying to make a block buster. If you want to see a hard hitting drama that'll entertain as well as educate, this is the film for you. Highest recommendation possible.